Of course, this is a pseudo-science. So, what are we to make of Ibn Caspi? It strikes me that three answers are possible.

(1) Ibn Caspi was taken in by erroneous contemporary science.

(2) Ibn Caspi was speaking of the common perception. (I don't think ידוע implies this, but we can supply this explanation on his behalf.) And Ibn Caspi often states that dibra Torah kilshon bnei Adam, that the Torah speaks in the language of people. A related approach would be to say this is merely an idiom, based on the common perception.

(3) Perhaps one could argue that this is indeed an observable phenomenon, at least in those days.

It seems that psychology would play a role in this. Someone presents an intimidating appearance, or seems loutish. Or else people who work in certain professions (e.g. butchers) that require a strong and bulky build also foster certain character traits.

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parshablog is published by (rabbi) josh waxman (joshwaxman [at] yahoo [dot] com), a grad student in Revel, a grad student in a Phd program in computer science at CUNY. i recently received semicha from RIETS. this blog is devoted to parsha as well as whatever it is i am currently learning.